The end of the Cold War - Gorbachevs Rule 1985-91

Question 1

What was Gorbachev’s main aim?

Answer 1

To make communism better by tackling the soviet problems.

Question 2

Soviet problems Gorbachev wanted to fix.

Answer 2

• The economy wasn’t efficient, living standards were dominated by shortages e.g. Queuing 5 hours for sausages.
• Many people had lost faith in communism.

Question 3

How did Gorbachev want to stop economic struggle?

Answer 3

• Perestroika, reconstructing the economy through reforms.
• Abandon the Brezhnev doctrine, removing the army from satellite states.
• Stops arms race.

Question 4

How did Gorbachev pan to make communists more faithful?

Answer 4

-Glasnost, relaxing the censorship of press. People could buy western products and magazines.

Question 5

Key points of the Chernobyl disaster.

Answer 5

1986

• A nuclear power station exploded, destroying the city.
• The Soviets couldn’t keep up with American technology since they left the arms race.
• Gorbachev denied it at first, but the media forced him to tell the truth.

Question 6

Key points of the Geneva summit.

Answer 6

1985

• Unsuccessful in persuading Reagan to drop SDI.
• began to form a working relationship.
• Gorbachev sacked Gromyko, an aggressive foreign minister.

Question 7

Key points of Reykjavik summit.

Answer 7

1986

-Still discussing arms limitation but no major breakthroughs.

Question 8

Key points of Washington summit.

Answer 8

1987

• Came up with INF reduction treaty.
• First time nuclear weapons were destroyed.
• Good for decreasing tension.

Question 9

What impact did Gorbachev’s new thinking policies have on the Eastern block?

Answer 9

• They start protesting, rebelling and executing leaders, as the soviet army had withdrawn. E.g. Romania, 1989, executed their leader.
• Caused the Berlin Wall to fall.

Question 10

Why did the Berlin Wall fall in 1989?

Answer 10

• Huge protests e.g.300,000 people in Leipzig.
• Failure of the Warsaw Pact, troops withdrawn.
• Other countries were leaving communism.
• Gorbachev’s new thinking.
• Dissatisfaction at the oppressive rule of East German government.

Question 11

Why was the collapse of the Berlin Wall so significant?

Answer 11

The collapse of the Berlin Wall is significant as it is a symbol of the beginning of the end of the Cold War, and a sign of freedom from communism for Eastern Europeans.

Question 12

Why was Gorbachev’s leadership so unpopular in the Soviet Union?

Answer 12

• Weakened communism.
• Collapse of the eastern bloc.
• INF treaty, reduction of nukes.
• Got rid of Gromyko, a well respected communist.

Question 13

What happened to lead to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991?

Answer 13

• New government removed Glasnost and perestroika.
• Gang of eights coup defeated Gorbachev.
• Ge returned and introduced a new constitution.
• This was rejected as countries wanted full independence.
• He announced the end of the Soviet Union.

Question 14

How did the end of the Warsaw Pact damage the Soviet Union?

Answer 14

• Military cooperation stopped between the countries, so the soviets lost power.
• Economy isn’t strong enough to hold the pact together.
• Lost allies as more Warsaw Pact countries left communism.